Reichley challenger dropped from ballot

A judge ruled that signatures on Carl Stevenson's nominating petition were invalid.

August 19, 2010|By Patrick Lester, OF THE MORNING CALL

An Independent candidate who was challenging Republican Doug Reichley for his 134th District state House seat has been thrown off the November election ballot by a Commonwealth Court ruling.

Judge James R. Kelley ruled that a number of signatures on Carl Stevenson's nominating petition were invalid because they were obtained by someone who doesn't live in the 134th District. Those signatures were obtained by Jake Towne of Lower Nazareth Township, the independent candidate running for Republican Congressman Charlie Dent's 15th District seat.

State law requires that circulators live within the district for which they are collecting signatures. Stevenson said he needed 577 signatures and collected 702.

Stevenson, 59, of Upper Milford Township, is considering an appeal, saying that a federal court case supports his claim that a nominating petition circulator doesn't need to live within the district.

"I've been in contact with the ACLU and one of the attorneys that litigated the case in federal court," Stevenson said.

Reichley said the judge considered that federal case during a hearing Wednesday and ruled the case was not applicable to Stevenson's.

Stevenson's absence from the ballot means the competition for the 134th District seat is now a two-person race between Reichley and Democratic challenger Patrick Slattery.

Slattery called the court ruling "unfortunate" and hopes Stevenson continues campaigning. "I hope Mr. Reichley joins me in asking Mr. Stevenson to continue on with his campaign…" Slattery said in a statement issued through his campaign.

Reichley said that would be like having three teams play in a baseball game. "There's no point," he said.

Reichley, who lives in Alburtis, acknowledged a challenge to Stevenson's nominating petition was filed on his behalf by Alburtis Mayor Robert Mader and Michael Gibson of the Emmaus Republican Committee.

Reichley said he had no objection to a third person being on the ballot, but added that "everyone has to play by the same rules."

Stevenson, the president of WK3C Wireless, a consulting firm, has said he was drawn into the race because he's "fed up with the way things are going with government."

Patrick.lester@mcall.com

610-820-6764

Two-man race

A Commonwealth Court decision striking Carl Stevenson's name from the race for the 134th District state House seat means the campaign is back to a two-man race. The candidates: